Afternoon sunlight reflects off of the National Monuments in Washington on March 13, 2007 (image courtesy NPS, Arlington VA)

Wind chills will be brutal for March standards this afternoon as a strong jet stream roars overhead today. A shortwave disturbance will rotate through the trough this afternoon touching off some fast-moving snow showers or squalls.

The most likely time frame for snow showers based on the latest high-resolution models is between noon and 4PM. Snow showers could drop a quick dusting to a quarter-inch. Locations across northern Maryland, Baltimore, DC and Northern Virginia are most susceptible (according to latest HRRR model), but isolated to scattered snow showers are possible region wide as lapse rates (the rate at which temperatures drop with altitude) will be very steep. Once the sun rises, instability will increase as the earth’s surface warms and that “warmer” air at the surface will rise rapidly, cooling and condensing to form clouds.

Closer look at immediate Washington Area:

Temperatures will hold in the middle to upper 20s today… but dress for the single digits and lower teens as sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph are likely with gusts to 50 mph possible!